Bulkhead



0. K. WEST BULKHEAD Filed Sept. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY m4f m es'z ATToRNl'z Aug. 18, 193] 0. K. WEST 1,819,664

I -BULKHEAD Filed Sept. 2Q. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOR 0074*? 47 M52- ATTORNE'Y '30 bulkhead to the inner PatentedAug. 18, 1931 :1 EE EEE ST OMAR K. WEST, OF DETROIT, -MIGHIGAN BULKHEADApplication filed September 20, 1929. Serial No. 894,101.

This invention relates to improvements in bulkheads, 'and refersmore"particula'rly to adjustable bulkheads which may be readily appliedto the ends of forms before pouring either concrete tunnels for sewers,culverts and the like, or caissons.

It is anobject of the'invention to provide a bulkhead which may either.be employed for tunnel work wherein an internal form only is used andthe earth employed as'the external form in which case a movable plate onthe bulkhead is moved outwards so that it enters the earth and holdsthat end of the bulkhead in position, or for caissons wherein bothinternal and external forms are employed in which case the movable plateis moved outward'and secured to the outer form.

In the latter case the movable plate is intended to be moved back beforeremoval of the bulkhead so as to materiallyfacilitate that operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bulkhead whereinstriking flanges are provided so that the movable plate may be readilydriven partly into the earth or out of the latter in tunnel work, or incaisson work moved from its inward to its outward position or viceversa; wherein means are provided for securing the inner end of theform; and whereina gripping member is provided so that the bulkheadmaybe easily pried. away from'the end of the tunnel or caisson after theconcrete has set. I '35 With these and other objects and advantages inview which will become apparent as the specification proceeds theinvention s hereinafter more fully described with theaid of theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation of the invention in position onthe end of a tunnel, and I V Figure 2 is a. section on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1. Figure 3 is a detail in perspective Figure t is a frontelevation of'the invention'in place on the-end of a caisson, and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4c.

5 Referring firstly to Figures 1, 2 and 3. l

-margins-11a welded outer margin designates a section of a concretetunnel having its outer side bounded by earth indicated alt-2, and aconventional metal form bounding its inner side. Projecting "forwardlyfrom the end of the form 3'is a usual channel-shaped member 4. Referringnow to the bulkhead, 5 denotes a stationary plate which, in this case,should besubstantially the same width as the wall of the tunnel 1, andin the case of circular tunnels segmental as shown. The inner-end ofthis plate 5 rests on the member 4. Projecting forwardly from the plate5isa channel member 6 which is usually reinforced by gussets 6a since itis frequently submitted to a severe strain in a manner hereinaftermentioned. 7 indicates fish plates one extremity of eachof which issuitably fastened-towards one end of the outer side of the channelmember 6. The opposite ends of the plate .7 are provided with holes 8 toreceive bolts-9 which also extend through holes 10 inthe forwardlyprojecting flange 4a of the member 4. Thus the stationary plate 5 isheld relative to the inner form 3. I Onthe-rear side of the stationaryplate 1, and usually extending the full width of the latter is a key 11,The latter is preferably made of sheet steel, has its upper and lower orotherwise suitably secured to the plate 1, and its upper and lower walls11?) and 110 rearwardly inclined towards one another and connected by "asubstantially vertical portion 11d. Inthis case the endslof the key 11are closed by heads 116 which are usually welded in position.

Slidable onfthe stationary plate 5 isia movable plate 12 usuallyofsubstantially the same width as the latter and oflesser length. Whenthe bulkhead is placed inposition the of the plate 12 should besubstantially flush with the outer margin of the stationary plate 5.Projecting through the latter and usually having their heads welded vagainst the said stationary plate to hold them against movementarebolts13 which extend through slots "14 in the movable plate 12. Thesebolts act as guides and .permit move-, ment ofithe said movable plate.15and '16 indicate angle members arranged transversely latter isreinforced on the plate 12, and 17 is a handle thereto.

When the bulkhead is to be placed in position it is usually lifted byits handle 17 and the channel member 6. The fishplates are then securedin position to hold the inner end of the bulkhead. Nuts 18 on the bolts13 are loosened andthe movable plate 12 1S driven outwards by strikingeither of the angle members 15 or 16 so that the said plate becomespartly buried in the earth. The outer end of the bulkhead is then firmlyheld in place. The provision of the outer angle member 15 is to affordthe movable plate secured greater resistance against movement after thelatter has been driven sufficiently far outwards for that member to havebecome imbedded in the ground.

After the concrete has set the bulkhead is removed by striking the anglemember 16 and disengaging the movable plate 12 from the earth. Then thebolts 9 are removed from the fish plates 7 and the stationary member ispried outwards by taking a grip under the channel member 6. And for thisreason the by the gussets 6a so that it will withstand the pryingstrain.

In Figures 4; and 5 a modified construction is shown applied to caissonforms, in which case an outer form has to be employed as there is noearth to utilize in its stead.

In this case 162 designates a caisson having its outer and inner. sidesbounded by forms 2a and 3a respectively, and forwardly projectingconventional channel-shaped members 4b and secured to the ends of thelatter.

Referring to the bulkhead itself 5a de notes a stationary plate similarto the plate 5 also having a channel member thereon reinforced bygussets 60. To the channel member 6?) and also to the channel member 40fish stationary plate relative to the inner form 3% In this case a solidkey 11g is shown secured by screws 11h to the inner side of thestationary plate 5a though when desired other forms ofkeys may besubstituted.

Bolts 13a extend through the stationary plate 5a for holding a movableplate 12a and project through slots 14a in the latter.

' moved into its outer position shown.

= gin, with the channel member 46. By this means the outer end of themovable plate is firmly held relative to the outer form 2a,

One angle member 16a and a handle 1711 are similarly mounted on themovable plate 12a and similar nuts 18a are utilized on the plates 7a aresecured for holding the.

bolts 13a for securing the movable plate 12a relative to the stationaryplate 5a. 186 denotes wings suitably secured to the nuts 18 or 18a tofacilitate turning them.

The movable plate 12a is disconnected from the channel-shaped member 17)by removing the fishplates 20 and driven into such position that itoverlies the stationary plate 5a before the inner end of the latter isloosened from the inner form 362/. and the whole bulkhead pried loose.The purpose of this is to reduce the amount of bearing surface of thebulkhead on the concrete and therefore to materially lessen the laborrequired to remove the former from the latter.

IVhile in the foregoing the preferred embodiments of the invention havebeen described and shown, it is understood that the construction issubject to such further modifications as fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bulkhead, the combination of a stationary plate adapted toextend outwardly from one extremity of an inner form and substantiallyat right angles thereto a memher on the outer face of said plate, platessecured to said member which are attached to other members projectingforwardly from one end of the inner form, a key secured to the innerface of the stationary plate, a movable plate having substantiallyparallel slots therein slidable on said stationary plate andsubstantially parallel thereto, and fastening means engaging saidstationary plate and projecting through said slots which either permitthe movable plate to be moved substantially parallel to the stationaryplate or enable the movable plate to be held still on the stationaryplate, said movable plate being adapted to project beyond the outermargin of the stationary plate.

2. In a bulkhead, the combination of a stationary plate adapted toextend outwardly from one extremity of an inner tunnel form, a movableplate slidable on said stationary plate, means for holding the movableplate relative to the stationary plate, a key on the rear side of thestationary plate, and a transverse member on the front side of themovable plate, said movable plate and said transverse member beingadapted to project outwardly beyond the stationary plate and to enterthe earth which constitutes an outer tunnel form.

3. In a bulkhead, the combination of a stationary plate adapted toextend transversely of one extremity of an inner form having achannel-member arranged transversely adjacent its inner margin, saidinner margin being adapted to rest on a member projecting forwardly froman inner tunnel form, fish plates connecting said transverse chan nelmember with the other member, a key on the rear side of the stationaryplate, a movable plate on said stationary plate, and means for holdingsaid movable plate still relative to said stationary plate, said movableplate being adapted to project outwardly beyond the stationary plate sothat its outer margin extends into the earth which forms on outer tunnelform.

4. In a bulkhead, the combination of a stationary plate the inner marginof which is to lie adjacent one extremity of an inner tunnel form andsaid plate lying at right angles to said inner form, means for holdingthat margin of the stationary plate relative to said inner form, ahollow key on the rear side on said stationary plate, a movable platehaving substantially parallel slots therein, means engaging saidstationary plate projecting through said slots so that said movableplate may either be held against independent movement or permitted tomove substantially parallel with and on said stationary plate, andprojecting portions on said movable plate adapted to be struck so thatthat plate may be thereby moved relative to said stationary plate, oneof said projecting portions and the outer portion of the movable platebeing adapted to enter the earth which forms an outer tunnel form.

5. In a bulkhead, the combination of a stationary plate extendingoutwardly from one extremity of a tunnel form and at right anglesthereto, means for holding said plate relative to said form, atransversely arranged member on said plate having a flange substantiallyparallel with the inner margin of said plate so that a pry may beobtained thereunder, a movable plate adapted to slide on said stationaryplate substantially at right angles to the inner margin of the latter,means for holding said movable plate still on said stationary plate, aclosed hollow key on the rear side of said stationary plate, and atleast one channel member extending transvegsely across the movable plateon its front s1 e.

6. In a bulkhead, the combination of a stationary plate adapted toextend outwardly from one end of an inner form and substantially atright angles thereto, a member on the outer face of said plate, meansfor securing said member to said inner form, a key secured to the innerside of the stationary plate, a movable plate slidable on saidstationary plate, said movable plate being adapted to project outwardlyvarying distances beyond the margin of the stationary plate adjacentsaid inner form, and means for holding said movable plate against movement relative to said stationary plate.

OMAR K. WEST.

